Frontline, Winter 2012

Feb 05th, 2012

JANUARY 19, 2012

A recent, personal experience reaffirmed for me the importance of taking action when you think there’s even a possibility that someone is at risk. I think we all asked the same question after news of the indictments against former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky broke: How could so many people have stood by and not protected those children?

Like many advocates working in the field, I believe in primary prevention. But until we are able to fully fund and develop effective prevention campaigns, we find ourselves continuing to provide services to survivors of sexual assault and trying to increase awareness so that bystanders will intervene.

How many of our children are at risk today? A recent fact sheet issued by MCASA estimates that there are at least 31,930 cases of child sexual assault annually in our state and national estimates suggest that only 12% of all child sexual assault cases are reported. CLICK HERE to download the fact sheet.

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